Tractor loaded with two-piece bucket



Sept. 15, 1964 R. L. BEYERSTEDT ETAL TRACTOR LOADER WITH TWO-PIECE BUCKET Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet l 2 N V EAU-OES QQ ,pH Eg/EJSSTEZDT No EL @QE TMA? N @Hofs-:2N Ey sept. 15, 1964 R. L. BEYERSTEDT ETAL 3,148,465

TRACTOR LOADER WITH TWO-PIECE BUCKET Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .....IIJJII l' Lv Vauro/e5 @Lp/4b. eg/ EHS Tear No El. @'QE'v-MAN Q7-ro PN Eg Sept. 15, 1964 R. l.. BEYERSTEDT ETAL 3,143,465

TRACTOR LOADER WITH Two-PIECE BUCKET 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 5. 1959 No EL GLQEJ'MAN P0 A Q o W d42729 EN Ey Sept. 15, 1964 R. l.. BEYERSTEDT ETAL 3,148,465

TRACTOR LOADER WITH TWO-PIECE BUCKET Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 gaa/91ML. @E9/ERS T507' lk/OEL ger-MAN ITOEN Eg Sept. 15, 1964 R. L.. BEYERSTEDT ETAL TRACTOR LOADER WITH TWO-PIECE BUCKET Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEA/roes fa LpH L. 3E. y EEsrE-pr NOEL @4er-MAN PMOP i Sept. 15, 1964 R. l.. BEYERS'TEDT ETAL 3,148,465

TRACTOR LOADER WITH TWO-PIECE BUCKET Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEA/roes @Lp/ 1 fcc/GESTEDT No EL rMQN rrOEA/E,

;moving functions.

United States Patent() A i 3,148,455 4'I'RAC'I'R LOABED WITH TW-IEECE BUCKET Ralph L. Beyerstedt, Libertyville, and Noei G. Artman, Geneva, Ill., assigner-s to The Frank G. Hough Co., a corporation of Illinois lContinuation of application Ser. No. 851,159, Nov. 5, 1959. This application Aug. 31, i962, Ser. No. 2'2I,93 l Claims. (Cl. 37-1175) This invention relates generally to tractor loaders and more specifically to an improved compound bucket arrangement providing multiple earth moving or material handling functions. Further, this invention is a continua- 'tion of a parent application entitled, Tractor Loaders, by Ralph L. Beyerstedt and Noel G. Artman, and having Serial No. 851,159, filed November 5, 1959, now abandoned.

As the art of tractor loaders has progressed, the need v'for multi-purpose tools has increased in order that econoimies in the number of different tools needed may be .achieved and to provide greater versatility in the different vearth moving or material handling functions which any -one 'tractor loader may perform. This demand has been jpartially met by a number of bucket arrangements pres- Yently known in the art which generally have the disadvantage of insuicient versatility or inherent deficiencies v'in the performance of one or more of the needed earth The basic desired or demanded functions are those of a conventional digging bucket, bullfdozer, self-loading scraper, and a clam shell. Further :functions which are generally some combination of the jfour basic functions are those of spreading, back-filling,

Ilevelling, grading and back-boeing.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a ltractor loader arrangement capable of eiciently performfing substantially all of the noted basic and secondary It is a further object of the present invention to provvide a compounded bucket attachment for a front end type tractor loader which in one adjusted position thereof will provide a conventional bucket arrangement which may be `used for efficiently digging at various levels and which `may be used to pry out or break away a load from any material being worked and which may be used to carry a load to a remote position with the bucket arrangement retaining substantially a maximum of the load in the bucket as the tractor is moved.l

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compound bucket arrangement, as described immediately above, which also may be adjusted to present an ideal bulldozing moldboard or blade to any material being worked with the normally desired different angles of penetration of the cutting edge thereof for bulldozing different materials and at various depths, and so that in the operation of the described arrangement there exists no interference of portions of the bucket not being used in the bulldozing operation with the moldboard elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tractor loader arrangement, as described in the immediately preceding paragraph, which is also easily adjustable to certain positions providing the arrangement of a self-loading scraper device with the various earth contacting surfaces being disposed so that efficient cutting and boiling of material in the confines of the bucket occurs as the tractor is moved forwardly with a minimum of power necessary relative to the quantity of earth or other material scraped into the bucket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tractor loader arrangement such as described immediately above which is also adjustable to a certain position 3,148,465 Patented Sept. 15, 1964 ice providing for efficient claim shell action with the pertinent cutting edges being disposed for eicient clam action and with the possible maximum reach of the front scoop p0rtion relative to the rear scoop portion being' extremely wide relative to the size of the various bucket members.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide; a 'tractor loader arrangement such as described above wherein the various functions of digging, bulldozing, clam action and scraping are accomplished with a minimum number of power operated means or hydraulic cylinders.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tractor loader arrangement such as described above wherein a single pair of rams are provided for relatively adjusting the two portions of a compound bucket arrangement through the various operations of digging, bulldozing, scraping and clamming.

Other -objects and features of the present invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawings of which: y

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a front end type tractor loader constructed according to the present invention and with the bucket adjusted to the digging position at ground level;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the bucket shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the bucket shown in FIGURE l; Y

FIGURE 4 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE l with the bucket adjusted to the breakout position;

FIGURE 5 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE l with the bucket adjusted to one load carrying position;

FIGURE 6 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 with the bucket adjusted to the high lift dump position;

FIGURE 7 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE l with the bucket adjusted to the bulldozing position; Y

FIGURE 8 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE l with the bucket adjusted to the clam action position; and

FIGURE 9 is a partial enlarged view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 with the bucket adjusted to the selfloading scraper position.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the Vspirit and scope of the present invention.

For a general description of the present invention, reference is made to 'the drawings. The tractor of the present embodiment is of the four wheel, rubber tired type with a rear mounted engine. However, the present invention may also be efficiently used on other types of tractors such as a crawler tractor. A boom structure which is pivotally carried on the tractor and extends forwardly thereof carriesl at its forward end the compound bucket arrangement. Linkage means connected between the tractor, the boom and the compound bucket is provided for pivoting the compound bucket to various operated positions relative to the boom. The compound bucket of the present invention comprises a front or scoop portion Vand a rear or moldboard section. The front or scoop portion is operatively associated with the moldboard portion by a lever arrangement pivotally connected between the forward end of the boom and the upper portion of the scoop section and a hydraulic ram and bell crank arrangement carried on the rearward side of the moldboard portion and connected to the upper end of the scoop portion. By dierent combinations of operaarms 39 at the upper ends thereof.

ry: e)

tion of the boom raising rams, the linkage means rams, and the bucket rams, all of the various functions described above may be efficiently performed. Exactly how each important material handling function is produced by the subject invention will be described below after a detailed description of the construction of the present invention.

For a detailed description of the present invention, continued reference is made to the drawings. The tractor comprises a frame supported on wheels 11, and carrying an engine compartment 12 on the rearward half thereof and a forwardly disposed operators compartment 13. The loader mechanism, except for the scoop and moldboard portions of the bucket, is formed of duplicate parts disposed on each side of the tractor and therefore a description of one side will sui'ice for both sides thereof. The boom 15 of the present embodiment has a somewhat curved shape and one end thereof is pivotally connected to the tractor by a pin 16 which is secured between one sidewall of the operators compartment and an outwardly positioned plate 17. The other end of the boom 15 extends forwardly of the tractor and is provided with a ground engaging shoe 18 which permits the loaded bucket to be skidded along the ground. The boom 15V is raised and lowered by a hydraulic ram 19 which is pivotally connected at its head end to a depending portion of the frame 1Q by pivotal mounting means 20. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 19 is pivotally connected to a depending ange portion of the boom 15 by pin means 21. In the position of FIGURE 1, the hydraulic ram 19 is substantially fully retracted and it may be seen that by suitable extensions thereof, the boom 15 will be raised. J

The linkage means of the present embodiment comprises a hydraulic ram 25, a lever 26, and a link 27.

f The head end of the hydraulic ram is pivotally carried on the tractor by a pin 28 carried between the side of the tractor and the plate 17. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 25 is pivotally connected to one end of the lever 26 by pin means 2?. The lever 26 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends on the boom 15 intermediate its ends by pin means 30. In the lowered position of the boom 15, such as shown in FIGURE 1, the other end of the lever 26 is disposed to depend below a portion of the boom 15 and that end of the lever 26 is pivotally connected to one end of the link 27 by pin means 31. The other end of the link 27 is pivotally connected to the rear surface of the moldboard portion of the bucket.

The compound bucket of the present invention comprises a scoop portion 32, a moldboard portion 33, a lever assembly or carrier 34, a bell crank or actuating member and a hydraulic ram 36. The bell crank 35 and the hydraulic ram 36 are formed in duplicate portions disposed on each side of the bucket. The scoop portion 32 is somewhat U-shaped and comprises a Vbottom wall having a pair of upstanding side walls integrally formed therewith. The side walls of the scoop portion 32 are provided with upwardly and rearwardly extending The arms 39 are reinforced by the plates 37 which are each secured to one end of Ya cylindrical reinforcing member 38, the other end of which is rigidly secured to the side wall of the scoop portion 32. The forward marginal edge of the bottom wall of the scoop 32 is provided with a cutting edge 49 and the rearward marginal edge of the bottom wall of the scoop 32 is provided with a cutting edge 41. Y

The moldboard portion 33 is shaped substantially as a bulldozer blade and the marginal edges thereof are so shaped that when positioned against the rearward edges of the scoop 32, a conventional digging bucket configuration is defined by the scoop 32 and the moldboard 33. The lower marginal edge of the moldboard 33 is provided with a cutting edge 42. The moldboard 33 is also provided with four pairs of flanges 44, 45, 46 and 47. The pair of tianges 44 are mounted on the rear side of the moldboard 33 substantially at the lower marginal edge thereof. The tianges 44 provide for the mounting of the compound bucket, and specifically the moldboard 33 of the present invention, on the forward end of the boom 15, and this is accomplished by pin means 48 carried through the flanges 44 and the forward end of the boom 15. The pair of flanges 45 are positioned on the rear side of the moldboard 33 substantially on the lower portion thereof and above anges 44. r[The head end of the hydraulic ram 36 is pivotally connected to the iiange 45 by pin means 49. The flanges 46 are mounted on the rear side of the mold board 33 above the flanges 45. The end of .the link 27 is pivotally connected to the ange 46 by pin means 50. The anges 47 are mounted on the rear side of the moldboard 33 substantially at the upper end thereof. The bell crank 35 is pivotally connected at the junction of its arms to the tiange 47 by pin means 51. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 36 is pivotally connected to one end of the bell crank 35 by pin means 52. The other end of the bell crank 35 is pivotally connected between the upper end of the extension 39 of the side wall of the scoop 32 and the plate 37 by pin means 53.

The scoop 32 is carried on the forward end of the boom 15 by the carrier 34 which may be called a lever assembly or bale member. The carrier member `34 in the present embodiment is U-shaped comprising side or leg portions 43 interconnected by cross member 54. The cross member 54 is journalled through the cylindrical members 38. The sides or legs 43 are somewhat L-shaped with the central portions thereof relatively wide so that the inner side thereof will engage the outward side edges of the moldboard 33 and thereby will provide substantial support against sideward shifting of the scoop 32 relative to the moldboard 33, when substantial side thrusts are appliedto the scoop 32. Although the carrier member 34 in the present embodiment is shown and described as a unitary assembly it may also be formed as separate levers on each side of the bucket. The lower ends of the legs 43 of the carrier member 34 are journalled on the pin means 48 in anges 44 so that the carrier 34 in pivoting is pivoted about the same axis on the boom that the moldboard 33 is pivoted. The cross member 54 is positioned relative to pin means' 53 so that with the bucket closed and in the dig position as shown in FIG- URE 1, the pin means 53 is positioned upwardly and rearwardly of cross member 54. Further in the described position of the bucket as shown in FIGURE l, the pin means 52 is positioned below and rearwardly of cross member 54. The relative locations of lthe various pin means 48, 53, 51 and 52 and the cross member 54 must be such that in the extensions and retractions of the hydraulic ram 36, the desired material handling or earth moving operations will take place. The relative locations of the pivotal axes of these members are also dependent upon the shape and configuration of the scoop 32 and the moldboard 33 as will be apparent from the below description of the operation of the present invention.

Suitable hydraulic fluid conduits, pump, reservoir and valve means (not shown) are provided for any selected operation of the hydraulic rams 25, 19 and 36 all of which are of the double acting type.

Turning next to a detailed description of the operation of the present invention, continued reference is made to the drawings. With the hydraulic rams 19 substantially completely retracted, with the hydraulic rams 25 partially extended a certain amount, and with the hydraulic rams 36 substantially completely retracted, the bucket will be positioned substantially in the horizontal dig position at ground level such as shown in FIGURE 1. The two bucket portions, the scoop 32 and the moldboard 33 will be positioned together to define a conventional digging bucket, and the operator of the loader may then dig into any suitable pile of material by moving the tractor forwardly and causing the cutting edge 45 of the scoop 32l to cut into the material to be dug. Upon filling the bucket, the hydraulic rams 25 may then be substantially completely extended to move the bucket to a break-out position.

In the break-out position which is shown in FIGURE 4, the levers 26 are pivoted counterclockwise as the hydraulic rams 25 are substantially completely extended and the lower end of the levers 26 will move the links 27 to pivot the bucket rearwardly about pin means 48 to the position shown in FIGURE 4 thereby breaking away the material which has been cut into the bucket from the pile or remaining material.

By a partial extension of hydraulic rams 19, the bucket may be moved to a load carrying position such as shown in FIGURE 5. Due to the relative positions of pin means 16, 28, Si) and 48 and the length of the levers 26 and links 27, the bucket in moving from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIGURE 5 will be automatically tilted further rearwardly to a full load retention position before obstructing the forward vision of the tractor operator and upon further raising of the boom 15, the bucket will remain substantially in that full load retention position. With the bucket in the load carrying position shown in FIGURE 5, the tractor may be moved to some remote location for dumping of the load.

For the dumping position, the boom may be further raised to the high lift position such as shown in FIGURE 6 by further extending the hydraulic rams 19. The bucket is then positioned for dumping by substantially retracting the hydraulic rams which will cause the bucket to be pivoted about pin means 4S to substantially assume the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 6. If the hydraulic rams 36 are then extended, the bell cranks 35 will be pivoted counterclockwise as shown in FIGURE 6 about pin means 51, and this movement in acting upon extension arms 39 and plates 37 of scoop 32 will cause the carrier 34 to be pivoted counterclockwise, as shown in FIGURE 6, to the solid line position shown therein. This movement of the bell cranks 35 and the carrier 34 results in a pivoting of scoop 32 about two dierent axes, the one axis being that of pin means 4S and the other being that of pin means 54. The pivoting of scoop 32 about both axes will result in a translation of scoop 32 relative to moldboard 33 moving scoop 32 forwardly away from moldboard 33 and at an angle to moldboard 33 to thereby dump any load in the bucket through the opening between scoop 32 and moldboard 33. Although the dumping operation was described as resulting first from a retraction of hydraulic rams 25 and a subsequent extension of hydraulic rams 36, this order of operation need not be followed in all dumping operations. The hydraulic rams 36 may be extended before hydraulic rams 2:7 are retracted or some combination of simultaneous operation of both rams may take place dependent upon the particular material being dumped from the bucket. From the high lift dump position, the bucket may again be moved to a digging position by retracting the hydraulic rams 36 and by suitable retractions of hydraulic rams 19 and extensions of hydraulic rams 2S.. Digging need not occur merely at ground level, but may be accomplished at any intermediate position and at different bucket angles.

Turning next to a description of the operation of the present invention as a bulldozer, particular reference isV made to FIGURE 7. For bulldozer operation, the hydraulic rams 19 are substantially completely retracted to position the boom 15 at its lowermost position, the hydraulic rams 25 are slightly retracted from the position shown in FIGURE l to move the cutting edge 42 slightly downwardly in proper cutting alignment with the ground, and hydraulic rams 35 are substantially completely extended to raise the scoop 32 sufciently high to prevent any interference of the scoop 32 with the moldboard 33 during the bulldozing operation. The tractor may then be moved forwardly to use the moldboard 33 in a conventional bulldozing operation.

FIGURE 8 shows the use of the present invention as a clam shell. For this operation the boom 15 is positioned at its lowermost position, the hydraulic rams 25 are substantially retracted to position the moldboard 33 in a forwardly inclined direction, and #the hydraulic rams 36 are substantially extended to provide the reach and bite for the clam action operation. Due to the construction of the bucket of the present invention, the reach of the scoop relative to the moldboard, or the distance between the cutting edges 41 and 42 used in the clam action operation, is extremely large thereby permitting vthe spanning of relatively large piles of material with the scoop 32 and moldboard 33. In the clam action operation, the cutting edges 41 and 42 are used, and in closing the bucket, the hydraulic rams 36 are retracted. Dependent upon the inclination of the base surface, some adjustment of the hydraulic rams 25 may be necessary in the clam action operation.

To use the subject invention as a self-loading scraper, adjustment of the various members to the positions shown in FIGURE 9 is necessary. In the self-loader scraper operation the boom 15 is again disposed substantially in its lowermost position, and the hydraulic rams 25 are operated to properly position the moldboard 33 to incline the cutting edge 42 for stripping of the ground. The hydraulic rams 36 are operated to properly position the scoop 32 relative to the moldboard 33. For the scraper operation, the hydraulic rams 25 are retracted from the position shown in FIGURE l until the cutting edge 42 reaches an angle relative to the ground for proper cutting v and boiling of a material into the confines of the bucket.

The hydraulic rams 36 are extended to provide an opening between the rearward edges of the scoop 32 and the moldboard 33 through which the cut material may pass. The extension of hydraulic rams 36 also raises the scoop 32 immediately above the material to be cut by the cutting edge a2 to prevent interference therewith. The tractor may then be moved forwardly and the cutting edge 42 will cut and roll the material into the scoop 32 to till the space defined by the scoop 32 and the moldboard 33. Dumping of the loaded bucket may then be performed by suitable operations of the hydraulic rams 19, 25 and 36 substantially as previously described.

Although only four basic operations of the present invention have been above described, it may be seen that the present invention may also be operated to perform many variations of the above described operations such as spreading, back-lling, levelling, grading and backhoeing of any suitable earth or materials.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom for controlling the Y operation of a tool carried by said boom, a tool comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, said scoop portion including a bottom wall having forward and rearward marginal edges', means pivotally mounting said moldboard portion at the lower end marginal edge thereof on the forward end of said boom, a carrier member pivotally connected at one l eratively pivotally connected -to the upper end of said scoop for controlled pivotal movement of said scoop relative to said boom and said moldboard.

2. In a tractor loader as claimed in claim l, wherem alliages 7 the forward and rearward marginal edges of the bottom wall of said scoop portion are provided with cutting edges, and wherein the lower marginal edge of said moldboard portion is provided with a cutting edge.

3. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom for controlling the operation of a tool carried by said boom, a tool cornprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, means pivotally mounting said moldboard portion at the lower rear side thereof on the forward portion of said boom, a U-shaped carrier member having a pair of legs interconnected by a cross piece, the outer end of each leg of said carrier member being pivotally connected to the forward end of said boom for pivotal movement about a transverse axis on said boom, said scoop portion being pivotally cmried on the cross piece of said carrier member, means connecting said moldboard portion to said adjustable linkage means for controlled pivotal movement thereof relative to said boom, and extensible means carried on the rearward side of said moldboard and operatively pivotally connected to the upper end of said scoop for controlled pivotal movement of said scoop relative to said boom and said moldboard.

4. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom for controlling the operation of the tool carried by said boom, a tool comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, means pivotally mounting said moldboard at the lower rear edge thereof on said boom at the forward end thereof, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the forward end of said boom, means pivotally connecting the upper portion of said carrier member to said scoop adjacent the upper end thereof, means connecting said moldboard portion to said linkage means for controlled pivotal movement thereof relative to said boom, a bell crank, means pivotally carrying said bell crank at the junction of the legs thereof on said moldboard adjacent the upper rear edge thereof, means pivotally connecting one end of one leg of said bell crank to the upper end of said scoop at a point positioned further upwardly and rearwardly thereof than the pivotal connection of said carrier member to said scoop portion, and extensible means mounted on the rearward side of said moldboard and pivotally connected to the outer end lof the other leg of said bell crank, said extensible means operable to pivot said bell crank to pivot said scoop portion relative to said boom and said moldboard.

5. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket arrangement comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, said front scoop portion including a bottom wall having a rearward marginal edge, a U-shaped carrier member comprising a pair of legs interconnected by a cross piece, means for pivoting said moldboard portion relative to said boom, means pivotally connecting the ends lof the legs of said carrier member to the lower portion of said moldboard, means pivotally carrying said scoop adjacent the upper portion thereof ion the cross piece of said carrier member, and means carried on the rearward side of said moldboard and pivotally connected to the upper end of said scoop for controlled pivotal movement of said scoop relative to said moldboard and relative to said carrier.

6. In a tractor loader as claimed in claim 5, wherein the legs of said carrier member are L-shaped and wherein said scoop portion, said moldboard portion and the L- shaped legs of said carrier member are positioned by said carrier member and said last-mentioned means so that when the rearward marginal edge of said scoop portion engages said moldboard portion, the legs of said carrier are positioned closely adjacent and on each side of the side walls of said moldboard portion whereby transverse shifting of said scoop portion relative to said moldboard portion is prevented.

7. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket arrangement comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion `and `a rear moldboard portion, means for pivoting said moldboard portion relative to said boom, a carrier member pivotally connected at one portion thereof to the lower portion of said moldboard, means pivotally connecting the upper portion of said carrier member to said scoop adjacent the upper end thereof, a bell crank, means pivotally carrying said bell crank at the junction of the legs thereof on the rearward side of said moldboard adjacent the upper rear edge thereof, means pivotally connecting one end of one leg of said bell crank to the upper end of said scoop `at a point positioned further upwardly and rearwardly thereof than the pivotal connection of said carrier member to said scoop portion, and extensible means mounted on the rearward side of said moldboard and pivotally connected to the .outer end of the other leg of said bell crank, said extensible means operable to pivot said bell crank to pivot said scoop portion relative to said moldboard wd relative to said carrier.

8. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket comprising a ltwo-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, a bottom Wall on said scoop portion providing forward front and rearward marginal edges, said moldboard portion having a lower marginal edge, a U-shaped carrier member comprising a pair of legs interconnected by a cross piece, means pivotally connecting the ends of the legs of said carrier member to said moldboard at the lower portion thereof, means pivotally carry- Y ing said scoop portion adjacent the upper portion thereof on said Vcross piece, means for pivoting said moldboard portion relative to Vsaid boom, a bell crank, means pivotally carrying said bell crank at the junction of the legs thereof on said moldboard adjacent the upper rear edge thereof, means pivotally connecting one end of one leg of said bell crank to the upper end of said scoop at a point positioned further upwardly and rearwardly thereof than the pivotal connection of said scoop portion to said cross member, and a hydraulic ram pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the rearward side -of said moldboard adjacent the lower portion thereof, means pivotally connecting the other end of said hydraulic ram to the outer end of the other leg of said bell crank, whereby said hydraulic ram is operable to pivot said bell crank to pivot said scoop portion relative to said moldboard portion and relative to said carrier so that a closed digging bucket is provided when the rearward marginal edge of said scoop portion engages said moldboard.

9. In a tractor loader as claimed in claim 8, wherein the forward and rearward marginal edges of the bottom wall of said scoop are provided with cutting edges, and wherein the lower marginal edge of said moldboard is provided with a cutting edge.

l0. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion, a rear moldboard portion, and a U-shaped carrier member of a pair of legs interconnected by a cross piece, pin means pivotally mounting said moldboard at the lower rear edge thereof and said carrier member at the ends of the legs thereof on said boom at the forward end thereof for pivotal movement thereof about the same axis disposed transversely of said tractor, means for pivoting said moldboard relative to said boom, means pivotally carrying said scoop portion at the upper portion thereof on said cross piece of said carrier member, a bell crank, means pivotally carrying said bell crank at the junction of the legs thereof on said moldboard adjacent the upper rear edge thereof, means pivotally connecting one end of one leg of said bell crank to the upper end of said scoop at a point positioned further upwardly and rearwardly thereof than the pivotal connection of said carrier member to said scoop portion, and a hydraulic ram carried on the rearward side of said moldboard and pivotally connected to the outer end of the other leg of said bell crank so that said hydraulic ram is operable to pivot said bell crank to pivot said scoop portion relative to said boom and said moldboard.

11. In a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket arrangement comprising a two-piece bucket of a front scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, a carrier member pivotally connected at one portion with said scoop portion and at another portion with said moldboard portion, said moldboard portion pivotally connected to the forward end of said boom and said linkage means such that adjustment of said linkage means pivotally moves said moldboard portion about the pivotal connection to said boom, an actuating member, means pivotally connecting one portion of said actuating member with said moldboard portion and pivotally connecting another portion of said actuating member with said scoop portion, and extensible means pivotally connected at one end to said moldboard portion and pivotally connected at the other end to said actuating member at a point thereon not coincidental to a straight line connecting said pivotally connected prtions or" said actuating member to said moldboard portion and to said scoop portion, said pivotally connected portions of said actuating member and said carrier member being geometrically spaced to define a quadrilateral, said extensible means being operable to pivot said scoop portion relative to said moldboard portion and relative to said carrier member.

12. in a tractor loader as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pivotally connected portions of said actuating member are spaced above said pivotally connected portions of said carrier member.

13. in a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket arrangement comprising a two-piece bucket of a rront scoop portion and a rear moldboard portion, a carrier member pivotally connected at one portion with said moldboard portion and at another portion with said scoop portion, said moldboard portion pivotally connected to the forward end of said boom and said linkage means such that adjustment of said linkage means pivotally moves said moldboard portion about the pivotal connection to said boom, an actuating member, means pivotally connecting one portion of said actuating member with said moldboard portion and pivotally connecting another portion of said actuating member with said scoop portion, the pivotal connections of said actuating member determining a rst pivot on said moldboard portion and a second pivot on said scoop portion, an extensible means pivotally connected at one end to said moldboard portion and at the other end to said actuating member spaced-apart from said first and second pivots, said extensible means being operable to pivot said scoop portion about said rst pivot relative to said moldboard portion and being further operable to translate and pivot said second pivot relative to said moldboard portion.

14. in a tractor loader, a boom carried thereon and extending forwardly thereof, adjustable linkage means connected to said tractor and said boom and extending forwardly thereof, a compound bucket arrangement comprising a two-piece bucket or a front scoop portion and a rear moidboard portion, a carrier member pivotally connected at one portion with said moldboard portion and at another portion with said scoop portion, said moldboard portion pivotally connected to the forward end of said boom and said linkage means such that adjustment or" said linkage means pivotally moves said moldboard portion about the pivotal connection to said boom, a pair of actuating members, means pivotally connecting one portion of one of each of said actuating members with said moldboard portion and pivotally connecting another portion of one of each of said actuating members with said scoop portion, the pivotal connections or" said actuating members determining a iirst axis on said moldboard portion and a second axis on said scoop portion, said first and second axes being transverse of said bucket and parallel to each other, an extensible means pivotally connected at one end to said moldboard portion and at the other end to said actuating members spaced-apart from said iirst and second axes, said extensible means being operable to pivot said scoop portion about said rirst axis relative to said moldboard portion and being operable to translate and pivot said second axis relative to said moldboard portion, and said carrier member during operation of said extensible means being pivotable relative to said scoop and moldboard portions.

15. In a tractor loader as in claim 14 wherein the bottom Wall of said scoop portion includes front and rear marginal edges, said moldboard portion having a lower marginal edge, said marginal edges providing cutting edges such that a closed digging bucket is provided when the rear cutting edge of said scoop portion engages said moldboard marginal edge.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A TRACTOR LOADER, A BOOM CARRIED THEREON AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREOF, ADJUSTABLE LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TRACTOR AND SAID BOOM FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A TOOL CARRIED BY SAID BOOM, A TOOL COMPRISING A TWO-PIECE BUCKET OF A FRONT SCOOP PORTION AND A REAR MOLDBOARD PORTION, SAID SCOOP PORTION INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL HAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD MARGINAL EDGES, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID MOLDBOARD PORTION AT THE LOWER END MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID BOOM, A CARRIER MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE PORTION THEREOF TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID BOOM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT THE SAME AXIS OF PIVOTING AS THAT OF SAID MOLDBOARD PORTION ON SAID BOOM, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID SCOOP PORTION, MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOLDBOARD PORTION TO SAID LINKAGE MEANS FOR CONTROLLED PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID BOOM, AND EXTENSIBLE MEANS CARRIED ON SAID MOLDBOARD AND OPERATIVELY PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID SCOOP FOR CONTROLLED PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SCOOP RELATIVE TO SAID BOOM AND SAID MOLDBOARD. 